The stage is mostly flat, although it has 2 uncomplicated climbs, Colla di Casaglia and Valco Apennines which wasn’t going to cause too much concern for Mick after the Blockhaus. After a early night we departed Forli which is an attractive town of 118,000 people, rain was likely, the route headed south from Forli and as expected the surroundings were a mass of green, the two climbs were early on with both awarding KOM points. Mick once again performed amazingly, the official route then follows the A1 motorway passing a series of well lit tunnels. Obviously we had to deviate to a side road, from this point the road was flat with a congregation of roundabouts and we negotiated a number of densely inhabited areas (especially Modena). However the roads were possibly some of the worst we have encountered, with no hard shoulder and deep drop offs and loads of traffic. Mick thankfully came...